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Born March 25, 1976 in Ukraine, Wladimir Klitschko is a professional boxer in the heavyweight category. He is the current world-boxing champion of IBO, WBO, The Ring, IBF, WBA, and of Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. He is the longest reigning heavyweight-boxing champion of IBO, WBO, and IBF, and second longest reigning boxing heavyweight champion of all time. He shares the all-time record with Muhammad Ali for being in 25 heavyweight title fights, which is second to Joe Louis who had been in 27 fights. In October 2013, Klischko was rated by Boxrec to be world number two pound-for-pound fighter, and in April 2014, he was ranked by Ring Magazine to be world number three in the list of pound-for-pound fighters.

Klitschko's boxing training started during the early 1900s in one of Poland's boxing clubs. He won his first heavyweight title in 1993 at the Junior European Championships, and in 1994, he came second at the Junior World Championships. In 1995, Klitschko won the Military Championships, and in 1996, he came second at the Super Heavyweight European Championships. During the same year, he won the attention of the world, when he brought home the gold medal in super-heavyweight boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Klitschko started his professional career while being coached by Fritz Sdunek. He built a 24-0 record, but suffered a loss at the hands of Ross Puritty, when the fight was ended by coach Sdunek in the eleventh round. In 1998, Klitschko won the WBC International Heavyweight title, when he defeated Marcus McIntyre in Stuttgart. However, in December he lost the title to Ross Puritty. In June 2009, Klitschko won the coveted Ring Heavyweight title. In April 2014, Klitschko was seen retaining The Ring, IBO, WBO, IBF, and WBA (Super) heavyweight titles. He is perhaps the only boxer who has also earned a PhD in Sports Science.

A welterweight bout pitting a 1981 "Sugar" Ray Leonard versus a 2009 "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather would have been a fascinating battle of tremendous skills and contrasting styles.

Leonard (36-3-1, 25 KOs), who captured a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal and was the first prizefighter to earn in excess of $100 million in purses, is widely considered one of the greatest pugilists of all-time.

"Sugar Ray," the winner of five world titles in five weight divisions, managed to trump future fellow International Hall of Fame inductees Wilfred Benitez (53-8-1, 31 KOs), Thomas "The Hitman" Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs), Roberto "Manos de piedra" Duran (103-16, 70 KOs) and Marvelous Marvin Hagler (62-3-2, 52 KOs) before he finally hung-up his gloves for good in March 1997.

Regardless of Leonard's litany of accolades and triumphs, the man named "Boxer of the Decade" for the 1980s was at his vintage best when he fought Hearns in September 1981 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada to unify the world welterweight titles in a contest scheduled for fifteen rounds.

Hearns entered the Leonard bout with an unblemished record of 32-0 with 30 knockouts "The Hitman" somehow generated frightening punching power despite his awkwardness and tall and skinny physique.

In the promotion dubbed "The Showdown," Hearns battered Leonard and was winning on all three judges scorecards after the conclusion of the twelfth round.

IBA heavyweight boxing champion James "Lights Out" Toney called UFC heavyweight king Brock Lesnar a coward this past weekend and said he would relish a chance to fight him inside the octagon.

Lesnar (5-1), absolutely one of the greatest athletes ever, returned to action after being sidelined for a year with a draconian intestinal disorder and emerged victorious over interim UFC titlist Shane Carwin by submission in a scintillating battle July 3 at UFC 116.

Lesnar, a legendary wrestler at the University of Minnesota who played for the Vikings as a defensive tackle during the 2004 NFL preseason, is next slated to defend his crown against Cain Velasquez in October at UFC 121.

"I like Cain Velasquez (8-0) and I think he has the ability to knock Lesnar out," said Toney, 41, a known steroid abuser who possesses a physique that resembles the lead character in Precious. "I think that fight is a toss-up. Lesnar ran away from Shane Carwin (12-1) like a girl, but then Carwin ran out of gas and quit. But, I'll fight any of them, any time anywhere. That's my motto."

Toney (72-6-3-2, 44 KOs), a former IBF super middleweight titleholder who is a solid pugilist and nothing more, is scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut versus UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture on August 28 at UFC 118.

Despite being 47, the iconic Couture (18-10) will undoubtedly batter and embarrass the portly Toney in the cage later this month.

"What makes a fat 41-year-old think he can beat a seasoned veteran like Couture? It's irrational," said Brad Sherwood, 30, a resident of South Boston who works as a personal trainer at Gold's Gym Medford.

Many talented pugilists have entered the squared circle over the past five years.

However, the five preeminent prizefighter's over that span of time are listed below.

1) "The Fighting Pride of the Philippines" Manny Pacquiao- Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), the first boxer to ever capture seven world titles in seven different weight divisions, is the WBO world welterweight super champion and Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound king.

Pacquiao has triumphed in 13 consecutive bouts since he lost to Erik Morales by a unanimous decision in March 2005.

At 31 and as dominant as ever, Pacquiao was honored in January as the grandest fighter of last decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

“Manny deserved to be the fighter of the decade,” said Roger “Pit” Perron, 73, a respected boxing trainer from Brockton who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training. “It was a good choice."

In actuality, Pacquiao is likely the only legitimate "choice."

2) "Dr. Steelhammer" Wladimir Klitschko- Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs), a Ukrainian who earned a gold medal as a super heavyweight at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is the IBF, WBO, IBO and Ring Magazine titlist in boxing's glamour division.

Lamon Brewster trumped Klitschko by a fifth round TKO in April 2004.

Subsequently, Klitschko has emerged victorious in 12 straight matches and his reign as the foremost heavyweight is not going to end anytime soon.

Jaccobs (20-1, 17 KOs), who hails from the Brownsville neighborhood of King's County, is an Empire State favorite and his defeat is a kick in the sack for many fans of New York City and American boxers alike

"I'm not going to complain. I just hope everyone will forgive me and keep the faith," said Jacobs, 23, whose are as produced fighter's like Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe and Shannon Brigg . "I know I can come back and become a champ. I got caught with a shot I didn't really see. I'll be all right."

This is a bad loss for Jacobs and an enormous triumph for the 30-year-old Pirog.

"Americans always think they need the best," said Maxim Dashok, 28 a Russian who currently resides in Brookline.

Nevertheless, American fight fans, relax.

Pirog is 30 and he still has a solid five years left to compete.

Conersely, if he so desires, Jacobs has approximately 12 quality years remaining in the ring.

Hence, Pirog's window period is small and Jacobs' has three presidential elections left.

The Western Australian Professional Combat Sports Commission announced last weekend it will investigate “The Green Machine” Danny Green’s first round knockout victory over “Hurricane” Paul Briggs July 21 in Perth, Australia.

Green (30-3, 27 KOs), who demolished faded legend Roy Jones, Jr. (54-7, 40 KOs) in 58 seconds last December, struck Briggs (26-3, 18 KOs) with a glancing and feathery left jab that curiously left the “Hurricane” on Queer Street after a measly 29 seconds of “action.”

Possibly even more suspicious than Green’s pathetic knockout blow was the excessive number of wagers booked to two separate betting agencies shortly before the bout began predicting an opening round knockout victory by “The Green Machine.”

“This is the most farcical thing we’ve probably seen in many years in this country,” Centrebet media director Neil Evans said. “We probably held more individual wagers on a one round knockout in this fight than we have in combined fights in this country in the last 20 years.”

The Western Australian commission said its inquiry would address a section of the Professional Combat Act which states: “Where in relation to a contest the commission is of the opinion that the contest is a sham contest the commission shall inquire into the promotion, arrangement and conduct of the contest.”

Initially, Green was forthright when he labeled Briggs “less than a canine” and recommended the “Hurricane” not receive compensation for his ring mockery.

Since “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather is a yellow charlatan, WBO world welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao will defend his crown against disgraced former WBA, IBF and WBO welterweight titleholder Antonio “Tijuana Tornado” Maragarito November 13 at a venue to be determined.

In order for Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) to be eligible to fight Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) in the United States, he first needs to regain his license to box.If Margarito isn’t reinstated, promoter Bob Arum said the two will battle in Monterrey, Mexico.

The “Tijuana Tornado” had his boxing license justifiably revoked by the California State Athletic Commission for “at least a year” in February 2009 after it was confirmed that he attempted to scrap former WBA welterweight super champ “Sugar” Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KOs) with a plaster-like substance inside of his hand wraps.

Fortunately, Margarito was caught and proven to be a disgusting scumbag by officials at the Staples Center in Los Angeles before the match began and he had the opportunity to seriously injure Mosley with his cement fists.

Once Margarito had his illegal hand wraps removed, the “Tijuana Tornado” was promptly brutalized by Mosley and defeated by ninth round TKO.

Margarito is perceived as the quintessential tough and rugged Mexican pugilist in the ring.Nevertheless, his attempted actions against Mosley are a cardinal sin in boxing and they should never be forgiven.

"Boxing is considered a crazy and animalistic sport," said Mike Cappiello, a native of Brockton who once fought for the IBO super featherweight title and retired with an impressive mark of 33-6. "Margarito's actions further hurt the outlook of boxing."

In the second round, Calderon (34-0-1, 6 KOs) was actually floored by a solid right hand landed by Iribe (16-7-5).

However, Calderon quickly recovered and used his movement and boxing skills to overwhelm Iribe for the final ten rounds.

“I got hit hard and went down in the second round,” said Calderon, 35, who flourished in past sparring sessions against superstars Oscar De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) and Shane Mosley (46-6, 39 KOs). “But I knew good movement would beat him.”

This weekend marked the sixth time Calderon successfully defended his crown since he captured it from Hugo Fidel Cazares (31-6-2, 22 KOs) via split decision in August 2007.

“Considering it was basically two horse jockeys fighting with zero power, it was kind of exciting,” said Brad Sherwood, 29, a resident of South Boston who works as a personal trainer at Gold’s Gym in Medford.

Calderon will never be an exceptional draw in the ring and his days as a prizefighter may be nearing an end.

Whenever Calderon ultimately chooses to retire, he will vacate the sport as a true professional and warrior.

After conducting an exclusive interview last week with International Boxing Hall of Famer Larry Holmes, critics and, well, haters of “The Easton Assassin” emerged in droves.

The bulk of Holmes’ detractors derived from Rocky Marciano’s hometown of Brockton, Massachusetts.

“The Brockton Blockbuster” retired from boxing with an unblemished record after he knocked out Archie Moore (185-23-11, 131 KOs) in the ninth round of their September 1955 prizefight in the Bronx.

Marciano (49-0, 43 KOs), who was ranked as the fifth greatest heavyweight ever by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005, holds the record for the longest undefeated streak by a heavyweight.

Danny Garcia and Paulie Malignaggi were both looking to the future - with vastly different visions. Garcia stopped Malignaggi in the ninth round of their welterweight fight Saturday night at Barclays Center to remain undefeated. Malignaggi dropped to 33-7. [read full article]